We have been through a plethora of scares over the years. This is a new one for us. I have heard from a number of sources that the usual suspect is a high fat diet or large feeding of high fat foods - especially human food.

Yet we feed California Natural, and healthy treat bars. The dogs don't eat any junk, or table scraps. I'm wondering if anyone has had a similar experience, and if so, did you make any dietary changes that helped in the long term? We're hoping to spare her another bout of this.

I almost lost Mary the first time she had an attack. WE were sent from our clinic to another clinic and i thought she was dying in front of me. THe vet took ahold of my arm ( i was a dripping tears and having a melt down) and said "nonono this is fixable!" 24 hours of iv and follow up meds and she was as right as rain. My grandaughter had fed her half a loaf of english muffin bread and that was what triggered it. I was told it is very common in old dogs. I have found that any variation in her diet is not a good thing. She does not get scraps anymore, even half a marshmallow (we toasted them for her in her younger days) set her off. IF i see she is drinking water like it's running out of style i pull it and give her nothing for a day. THat usually calms things back down. I keep antispasmatic pills and an antibiotic on hand so if it starts i can treat her quickly. WE have had some minor attacks since but nothing like that first one. IT must be incredibly painful, the burning stomach from hell.

__________________Go Petie GoGo Who Go!

love comes in many directions with mary

Side by side on the sofa sat three annoyed dogs and one smug catand then in came a little white kitten,

Wow you have been through it. I almost got the impression from your post that drinking too much water can trigger an attack. Is that your understanding?

No, too much water isn't going to trigger an attack. When the dog is guzzling down huge amounts of water, it's a possible symptom. In a pancreatitis attack, all food and water should be withheld ~ if needed, fluids and nutrients are given subQ. Anything ingested, including water, will worsen a pancratic attack as it causes the digestive system to respond.

And yes, I have dealt with pancreatitis also. When Morgan went to the vet, the vet walked into the exam room and stopped in the doorway and almost started to cry. The vet kept her for the day, monitored her, gave her IV meds, then sent her home with me for the night. They didn't expect her to survive through the night.

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The slayer of all things happy since 2010
Kibble feeder since 1973

Goodness, I feel for both of you. We have had a much easier go of it by comparison. Our vet told us we caught it very early - Sola is high energy, but was lethargic and depressed, so we went to the vet and happened upon the problem.
Thanks for sharing this, I understand that we now have to watch her a little more closely than we used to.